Category Buyer

Location: Bangalore, India

Thales is a global technology leader trusted by governments, institutions, and enterprises to tackle their most demanding challenges. From quantum applications and artificial intelligence to cybersecurity and 6G innovation, our solutions empower critical decisions rooted in human intelligence. Operating at the forefront of aerospace and space, cybersecurity and digital identity, we’re driven by a mission to build a future we can all trust.

Present in India since 1953, Thales is headquartered in Noida and has other operational offices and sites spread across Delhi, Gurugram, Bengaluru and Mumbai, among others. Over 2200 employees are working with Thales and its joint ventures in India. Since the beginning, Thales has been playing an essential role in India’s growth story by sharing its technologies and expertise in Defence, Aerospace and Cyber & Digital sectors. Thales has two engineering competence centres in India - one in Noida focused on Cyber & Digital business, while the one in Bengaluru focuses on hardware, software and systems engineering capabilities for both the civil and defence sectors, serving global needs. The Group has also established an MRO (Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul) facility in Gurugram to provide comprehensive avionics maintenance and repair services to Indian airlines and support the growth of the local aviation industry.

Role: Category Buyer

Experience: 4 to 10 years

Work Location: Bangalore

Job purpose

As Individual contributor, he/she shall be responsible for primarily sourcing of Embedded Engineering Services, product Design & Development, Electronic Manufacturing/Integration & Other Services

Duties and responsibilities

• The Category Buyer (CB) is responsible and accountable for end to end performance of the purchase acquisition process, via the management of the RFI &/or RFP's
• The CB shall lead purchase process, identifying potential/suitable suppliers, conduct evaluation of process, involve internal stakeholders, captures technical and commercial business needs, challenges the status quo, negotiates and concludes through favorable contract terms
• CB implements Purchasing policy, ensure procurement governance process is fully applied & implements strategies applicable to the Category (target suppliers, strategic suppliers, contracts/framework agreements negotiated, etc.) and communicates to relevant parties
• CB ensures the deployment, implementation and monitoring of agreed category strategies
• Manages consultation documents (RFQ) and calls for tenders, manages communications with all stakeholders involved
• CB manages contracts, NDA and framework agreements: creation and monitoring of versions, reviews, approval flowchart and signatures, summary sheet, archiving, distribution and Purchasing contract reference base management & internal communication
• Negotiates commercials and & contract acquisition conditions with selected supplier(s)
• Keeps Purchasing data up to date in the information systems and guarantees their integrity
• Ensures that Suppliers deliver on their contract commitments and tracks their performance
• Provides the information needed for purchase acquisition forecasts and related requirements, in order to improve the strategy and to ensure better globalization
• Responsible for supplier relationship management and continuous improvement of suppliers within his/her category (with the support of Supplier Performance Management Team if needed) and the management of suppliers performance including, but not limited to, quality, cost, delivery, contractual performance and innovation
• An essential element of his/her role is to ensure that the suppliers provide the competitiveness required to support the business and to introduce optimal supply base changes to support business winning capability
• Creates Purchasing orders in the information system, in line with the terms/contracts negotiated
• Tracks delivery with suppliers (reminders, disputes, receipt tracking, invoicing), identifies risks of non-fulfilment and alerts stakeholders
• Summarize information for management reporting needed to assess suppliers’ operational performance

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or any discipline/ Supply Chain/Business management
• This position will be based out of Bangalore
• 5–10 years of procurement experience with strong technical understanding & worked in high-tech, technology-driven environments (e.g., product design, manufacturing, R&D) preferred.
• Candidate must have real life relevant experience in procurement of Embedded Engineering Services Outsourcing/ IT Application Services, Electronic Design (Hardware & Software development), Electronic & Mechanical Assembly/Integration/Manufacturing & should possess strong skill in drafting & negotiating contracts/SoW
• Knowledge on procurement of Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO), Installation & Civil works will be added advantage
• Candidate must have strong understanding on Export/Import process, STPI/SEZ rules, Incoterms, Supplier Risk Management and ESG
• Procurement experience in Aerospace & Defence industry domain will be an added advantage
• Candidate should have ability to challenge suppliers & internal stakeholders for optimizing cost through smart ideas and engineering inputs and able to individually steer price/contract negotiation and resolving disputes
• Strong oral and written communication skills with experience in influencing others
• Strong tools expertise in Microsoft Power Point, Excel, Word & PowerBI
• Self-motivated /self-starter with ability to work independently and in team environment

Key Skills

• Category strategy & cost modeling
• Vendor governance & relationship management
• Strong negotiation & commercial judgment
• Cross-functional stakeholder alignment
• Excellent communication and presentation ability
• High standards of integrity, compliance, and attention to detail

At Thales, we’re committed to fostering a workplace where respect, trust, collaboration, and passion drive everything we do. Here, you’ll feel empowered to bring your best self, thrive in a supportive culture, and love the work you do. Join us, and be part of a team reimagining technology to create solutions that truly make a difference – for a safer, greener, and more inclusive world.